In 2020, McLean Quinlan knocked on our FRONT door with a vision for a bespoke brick development in Nottinghamshire that would align with their design aspirations while honoring the area’s green belt context.
To secure approval from the planning committee, the architect needed a high-quality brick solution that blended seamlessly with the environment.
After extensive exploration of various colours, textures, and dimensions, they submitted an application featuring a facade crafted from FRONT® WasteBasedBricks.
This innovative choice upcycles 115,730 kilos of waste into a stunning architectural achievement.
This new family home, within a conservation area and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, has sustainability at the core of its design.
Award-winning British architects McLean Quinlan took inspiration from the characteristics of the surrounding environment, particularly the tall boundary and retaining walls that define the village’s identity. These walls, which run like a spine through the valley, are reinterpreted in the building’s structure.
The dwelling will sit within an enhanced landscape environment designed by Ibbotson Studios.
Pushing the boundaries of current best sustainability practices and with an aim to meet RIBA 2030 targets, passive principles are incorporated to reduce operational carbon emissions, alongside innovative strategies to minimize embodied carbon. Renewable technologies and low-energy construction methods further enhance the building’s environmental performance, making it a pioneering example of sustainable residential design.
Materiality plays a crucial role in grounding the design within its context. A bespoke, light-coloured brick, manufactured by FRONT, references both the render of grand village buildings and the warm tones of local stone, ensuring the house complements the existing village palette.
The brickwork features intricate patterns inspired by the client’s historical ties to the textiles trade, specifically the jacquard loom punch cards used in the 19th century to create complex fabric designs. These patterns are subtly integrated into the building’s façade, adding a layer of historical reference and craftsmanship.
Together with the clients and our manufacturing partners at Zilverschoon Randwijk in The Netherlands, we worked on developing a brick with a custom colour to compliment the right aesthetics and custom dimensions with special details to seamlessly meet window openings and doors.
Read more about our Custom Made Service
This project is currently under construction and we will keep you updated on the process.
With the outstanding quality of the design and the extent of landscape enhancements, the FRONT teams believes that this development will deliver a true legacy project for the area!
We’re excited that you are interested in developing a custom made brick or brick slip. Do you need some advice to make the right decision? Our brick experts are here to help. You can schedule an intake here.
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